Sheet transfer apparatus



July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY E AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 laINVENTORS.

Hana E. Mqwry and Guy Carr/cam BY WQZMZI/ July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 INVENTORS.v E. Maury and Ca m w Har Guy fried/0 Fig. 1a

July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I 1 Y l- INVENTORS.

Filed Oct. 8, 1965 July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 8, 1965 COfQ 64%INVENTORS. rry E. Mow/y and uy M Carri July 9, 1968 MOWRY ET AL3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

Harry E. Mow/y and Guy I./ Carr/cam July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET A SHEETTRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 Fig.6

INVENTORS. Harry E Mowry and BY Guy I! Carr/cola yam/15y July 9, 1968 H.E. MOWRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 8Sheets-Sheet 7 I III lllllll] INVENTORS. Fl 7 Harry E. Heavy and BY GuyV Carricalo July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET L 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 m um a? v mN r w 1M United States Patent 3,391,928 SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS HarryE. Mowry, Ben Avon, and Guy V. Carricato,

Sharpsbnrg, Pa., assignors to Miller Printing Machinery Co., Pittsburgh,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 494,1857 Claims. (Cl. 271-71) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLGSURE Apparatus for handlingsheets. The sheets are transferred from an edgewise relation one afterthe one to a generally spaced apart face to face relation by a rotatablefirst transfer member having diametrically opposed radially extendingarms with sucker means at their extremities and a reciprocabie secondtransfer member having other sucker means for engaging the sheets. Thesheets are engaged by the sucker means on the rotatable first transfermember and carried in an arcuate path to a location where the othersucker means on the reciprocable second transfer member engages thesheet and transfers the sheet to a receiver that supports the sheet ingenerally spaced apart face to face relation.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling sheets. It has to doparticularly with apparatus for handling sheets freshly printed with inkto set the ink and control the moisture content of or otherwise treatthe sheets, although features of the apparatus have general application.

For purposes of explanation and illustration we shall describe theinvention as embodied in apparatus for advancing sheets immediatelyfollowing printing to enable setting of the ink and conditioning thesheets thereafter. We advance the sheets continuously, first throughdrying means and thereafter through other conditioning means. During thedrying step the paper may become dehumidified and we subsequentlycontrol the moisture content by humidifying the paper. However if in anycase the moisture content of the paper after setting of the ink shouldbe too high it can be dehumidified in our apparatus.

We advance sheets edgewise one after another at relatively high speed inthe first part of our apparatus and thereafter advance the sheets whiledisposed in substantially parallel spaced apart relation at lower speedfor treatment of the sheets such as humidification thereof. We provideautomatic transfer means for transferring the sheets from their initialpath in which they move edgewise one after another into their final pathin which they are disposed in substantially parallel spaced apartrelation. In the latter portion of the path of the sheets they aredesirably hung from their upper edges. Provision is made to avoidcreasing of the sheets by maintaining the gripped edges thereofsubstantially coplanar with the adjacent portions of the bodies of thesheets during transfer from the first portion of the path to the secondportion of the path and throughout the second portion of the path.

We also provide means for delivering the sheets from the second portionof the path to a pile where they are piled or stacked atop one anotherand we maintain the gripped edges of the sheets and the portions of thebodies of the sheets adjacent the gripped edges thereof substantiallycoplanar while the orientation of the sheets from substantially verticalto substantially horizontal is being altered.

We provide oscillating or reciprocating means, preferably sucker means,for taking the sheets one by one from the first portion of the path andintroducing them into the second portion of the path. Provision is alsomade for withdrawing sheets for inspection at the will of the operatorbefore the sheets enter the second portion of the path.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of a present preferred embodimentthereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferredembodiment of the invention in whic FIGURES 1a, 1b and 1c taken togetherconstitute a side elevational view with portions cut away of the apparatus (FIGURES la and lb should be considered as fitting togetheralong the line XX and FIGURES lb and 10 should be considered as fittingtogether along the line YY despite the fact that for practical reasonsthere is a small difference in scale among FIGURES 1a, 1b and 1c);

FIGURES 2a and 2]) taken together along the line ZZ show a fragmentaryplan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1b and 10;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail view to enlarged scale to a portion ofa chain and gripper assembly forming part of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the part of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line VIVI ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the driving gears, sprockets and sprocketchains for our apparatus; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in elevation and partlyin longitudinal cross section, of a portion of the structure shown inFIGURE 1b.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there are showndiagrammatically in FIGURE 1c elements of an offset sheet printingpress. The press may be a conventional offset sheet printing press;however, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention isnot limited to use with such a press but may be used with presses ofother types. Those skilled in the art will further understand that inthe form of press shown sheets are taken and advanced by the variouscylinders by grippers which are operated to take and release the sheetsin conventional manner. The structure of the printing press forms nopart of our invention.

Sheets pass clockwise around transfer cylinder 2 and are taken byimpression cylinder 3 around which they pass counterclockwise. The platecylinder is shown at 4 and the blanket cylinder at 5. The printingcouple is constituted by the impression cylinder 3 and the blanketcylinder 5. The sheets are printed as they pass around the impressioncylinder 3 and engage the blanket cylinder 5 as is conventional inoffset sheet printing. The printed sheets are taken by the transfercylinder 6 around which they pass clockwise.

Our apparatus has supporting structure including side frames 7 in whichis journaled a chill roll 8 having roll necks 9. Fixed to the necks ofthe chill roll 8 are sprockets 10. Sprocket chains 11 are trained aboutthe respective sprockets 10. Each sprocket chain 11 is also trainedabout a sprocket 12 rotatably mounted in the supporting structure and asprocket 13 carried by a delivery reel 13a rotatably mounted in thesupporting structure and also is guided by guides 14, 15 and 16. Thesprocket chains 11 operate in synchronism since the sprockets 13 areboth carried by the delivery reel 13a which is driven from the press asillustrated by FIGURE 7 and later described. The sprocket chains 11carry spaced apart transverse gripper bars having grippers mountedthereon which are operated in conventional manner as known by thoseskilled in the art to take sheets from the transfer cylinder 6 andadvance them in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 10. Thecomposite endless element comprising the sprocket chains 11 and thetransverse gripper bars and grippers will be identified by 11a.

The sheets carried by the endless element 11a move toward the leftviewing FIGURE 1c between an infrared dryer 17 and a reflector 18 topromote setting of the ink. The infra-red heat not only promotes settingof the ink but also penetrates the paper. This is of especial advantagewhen ink containing a volatile constituent is used. Some of the volatileconstituent of the ink permeates the paper and thus initiates setting ofthe ink. The infra-red heat is effective in volatilizing such of thevolatile constituent as has not permeated the paper.

When the sheets emerge from the infra-red dryer 17 substantially all ofthe volatile constituent of the ink which has not permeated the paperhas been volatilized. The paper passes upwardly through a gas dryer 19in which flames 19a are directed against the opposite faces of the paperto finally set the ink, and the flames burn volatile constituent whichhas been volatilized in the infrared dryer and any unvolatilizedvolatile constituent will be completely volatilized and substantiallyburned in the gas dryer. As the paper emerges upwardly from the gasdryer 19 the paper has at one or both faces thereof residue from the setink, particularly when ink containing a volatile constituent is used.The residue tends to cling to and move along with the paper. It issheared off by air knives 20 which direct generally blade-shaped airblasts against the faces of the paper at an angle in the directionopposite the direction of advance of the paper. The residue removed bythe air knives is drawn off through ducts 21.

The endless element 11a carries the paper around the chill roll 8. Atthe time the paper reaches the chill roll 8 the ink has been set and theresidue has been removed but the paper is hot and has been dehumidifiedin the dryers 17 and 19.

The endless element 11a has 'become heated in the dryers 17 and 19. Tocool it off it passes through a cooling chamber 21a where it is sprayedwith a cooling fluid, preferably water, through spray heads 2112.Cooling fluid, clinging to the endless element is removed by air jets21c issuing from air bars 123. Thus by the time the endless element getsback to the delivery reel 13a it has been cooled and dried and is readyfor the succeeding cycle.

A second chill roll 22 and a third chill roll 23 are disposed incooperative relation with the chill roll 8 as shown in FIGURE 1b and aresuitably mounted in the supporting structure and driven to rotate at thesame surface speed as the chill roll 8. Each of the chill rolls 22 and23 carries grippers which are operated in conventional manner and whichtake the sheets from the endless element 11a and carry them around thechill roll 22 in the clockwise direction and thence around the chillroll 23 in the counterclockwise direction. Each of the sheets passesaround the chill roll 8 through almost half a revolution and around thechill roll 22 through somewhat less than half a revolution and aroundthe chill roll 23 for either just a short distance or somewhat more thanhalf a revolution depending upon subsequent operations as will presentlybe described.

Moisture is applied to each of the chill rolls 8, 22 23. Associated witheach of the three chill rolls is a water fountain 24 from which water isdelivered to the chill roll through a fountain roller 132, a ductorroller 25 and suitable cooperating rollers 130 and 131 as shown. Thewater fountains 24 and associated rollers for applying moisture to thechill rolls may be conventional but the rollers 130 are driven in adirection opposite that of each of the three chill rolls to clean thechill rolls while applying moisture. The amount of moisture applied toeach chill roll may be controlled and regulated by control of thecorresponding ductor roller 25. Thus under any particular circumstancesthe quantity of moisture delivered to the chill rolls may be increasedor decreased and the quantity of moisture delivered to the respectivechill rolls may be varied. The effect of passage of the sheets againstthe chill rolls is to cool and humidity the paper.

Provision is made for removing sheets for inspection at the chill roll23. The means for performing that function are shown to enlarged scalein FIGURE 8. The chill roll 23 has spaced at intervals thereacrossgripper pads 26 with each of which a gripper 27 of conventional construction operates. The grippers 27 are pivoted in the chill roll 23 by beingfastened to a turnable shaft 28. An arm 29 fixed to the shaft 28 carriesa cam follower roller 30. A cam 31 is mounted in the supportingstructure of the apparatus and is adapted to be moved by the operator,as, for example, by solenoid operating means, selectively into positionunderlying the roller 30 and into position laterally offset from theroller 30. When the cam 31 is in position laterally offset from theroller 30 the grippers 27 remain closed. The normal operation of thegrippers 27 to take sheets from the chill roll 22 and carry themsomewhat more than half way around the chill roll 23 is accomplished byconventional mechanism which is not shown in the drawings but which iswell known to those skilled in the art. When the cam 31 is moved by theoperator into position under the roller 30, the roller 30 raises to thehigh point 32 of the cam as the chill roll 23 turns in thecounterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 8 which raises the arm 29 andopens the grippers 27.

An arm 33 is also fixed to the shaft 28. Pivoted to the end of the arm33 at 34 is a bar 35. Pivoted to the bar 35 at 36 is an arm 37. Pivotedto the bar 35 at 38 is an arm 39. The arm 37 is fixed to a shaft 41turnably mounted in the chill roll 23 and to which shaft lifters arefastened. The arm 39 is pivotally mounted in the chill roll 23 at 42 andhas a cam extension 43 adjacent the periphery of the chill roll 23 asshown in FIGURE 8.

Fastened to a shaft 44 turnably mounted in the supporting structure arespaced apart separating fingers 45. Two downwardly extending arms 46 and122 are fastened to the shaft 44. Arm 46 carries a cam following roller47 positioned in transverse alignment with the cam 43. A rod 49 ispivoted to the arm 122 at 48. The opposite end of the rod 49 is pivotedat 50 to an arm 51 turnable about a fixed pivot 52 and with which arm isintegrally associated a detent 53. The supporting structure turnablycarries a shaft 54 on which is mounted an arm 55, and a rod 56 ispositioned between and adapted to engage the under surface of the outerend of the arm and the upper surface of the detent 53. Arms 57 are fixedto the shaft 54, each arm 57 carrying a roller 58. A sheet receivingchute 59 is positioned to receive sheets delivered toward the leftviewing FIGURE 8 at the top of the chill roll 23.

The grippers 27 are at all times urged toward closed or operativeposition by a compression coil spring 133 disposed about a rod 134pivoted at 135 to an arm 136 fixed to the shaft 28. The outerend of therod 134 extends through a bore in a bracket 137 mounted on thesupporting structure. The spring 133 bears between a washer 138 whichlies against the bracket 137 and a stop 139 near the end of the rodwhere it is pivoted to the arm 136. Thus the grippers 27 are maintainedclosed at all times except when means are operated to open them.

The arms 46 and 122 are urged inwardly of the chill roll 23 by acompression coil spring 140 disposed about a rod 141 pivoted at 142 tothe arm 122. The outer end of the rod 141 extends through a bore in abracket 142a mounted on the supporting structure. The spring 140 bearsbetween a washer 143 which lies against the bracket 142a and a stop 144near the end of the rod where it is pivoted to the arm 122. The stop 145is carried by the supporting structure and the arm 122 is maintainedagainst that stop by the spring 140 at all times except when the cam 43acting through the cam following roller 47 turns the separating fingers45 to their position nearest the axis of the chill roll 23.

The rod 56 is slidably mounted in guide brackets 146 and 147 carried bythe supporting structure. A compression coil spring 148 acts between ahead 149 on the lower end of the rod 56 and the guide bracket 147 tourge the rod 56 downwardly so that it always engages the detent 53.

The rollers 58 are at all times urged toward the surface of the chillroll 23 by a compression coil spring 150 disposed about a rod 151pivoted at 152 to an arm 153 fixed to the shaft 54. The opposite end ofthe rod 151 extends through a bore in a bracket 154 mounted on thesupporting structure. The spring 150 bears between a washer 155 whichlies against the bracket 154 and a stop 156 near the end of the rodwhere it is pivoted to the arm 153. Thus the rollers 58 are caused tobear against the surface of the chill roll 23 except when they areraised by action of the rod 56 as will be presently explained.

As above stated, when the cam 31 is moved into position under the roller30, the roller raises to the high point 32 of the cam 31 and opens thegrippers 27 as the chill roll 23 rotates. counterclockwise movement ofthe arm 33 about the axis of the shaft 28 moves the bar 35 upwardly andto the right viewing FIGURE 8 which in turn raises the lifters andswings the cam 43 outwardly relatively to the circumstances of the chillroll 23. The timing is such that as the grippers 27 and lifters 40 areraised the outwardly projecting cam 43 engages the roller 47 and movesthe separating fingers down so that the oncoming sheet may be projectedover top thereof into the chute 59. Simultaneously the rollers 58 movedown and press the sheet against the surface of the chill roll 23 toinsure forward projection of the sheet after it has been released by thegrippers. The lifters lift the oncoming sheet so that it passes over thegrippers and over the separatingfingers and into the chute.

By the mechanism just described the operator may at his option at anytime cause one or more sheets to be delivered to the inspection chute59. Normally, when the cam 31 is offset from the roller 30, no sheetswill be delivered to the chute 59 and all of the sheets will pass in thecounterclockwise direction around the chill roll 23 for somewhat morethan half the circumference of that roll where they are taken bymechanism now to be described.

Mounted for rotation in the supporting structure is a transverse shaft60 carrying spaced apart transfer elements 61 each having twodiametrically opposed arms 157. At the extremity of each of the arms 157is a sucker 63 communicating through a port 64 with a vacuum line 65.Each of the vacuum lines 65 communicates with a rotary valve ofconventional construction (not shown) through which suction is drawnthrough each of the suckers 63 from the time when it is straight upuntil it reaches the position shown in FIGURE 1b for the lower arm 157.The arms 157 of the transfer elements 61 take sheets from the chill roll23 and deliver them to a series of reciprocating suckers 66 presently tobe described.

Supporting arms 67 carried by a transverse rod 68 mounted in thesupporting structure carry a series of crescent-shaped brackets 69 inwhich are journaled rollers 70 which may be generally star shaped orpointed. The purpose of the rollers 70 is to guide the trailing portionsof the sheets as that are advanced by the arms 157 of the transferelements 61. Thus as each set of arms 157 carries a sheet by its forwardportion in the clockwise direction around the axis of the shaft 60 thesheet is guided by the rollers 70.

Each of the reciprocating suckers 66 is disposed at the extremity of atube 71 pivoted at 72 to the extremity of a curved lever 73 fixed to across shaft 74 journaled for rotation in the supporting structure. Alsofixed to the cross shaft 74 is an arm 75' pivoted at 76 to a link 77which in turn is pivoted at 78 to a lever 79 pivoted at 80 to thesupporting structure and carrying a roller 81 at its opposite end. Theroller 81 follows a rotary cam 82 of a contour such as to causeoscillation of the lever 79. The rotary cam 82 is mounted on the neck ofthe chill roll 23 and rotates therewith.

Integral with each tube 71 is an extension 83 pivoted at 84 to a link 85whose opposite end is pivoted at 86 to a bracket 87 carried by thesupporting structure.

Rotation of the cam 82 oscillates the lever 79 which through themechanism shown oscillates the arms 73 each of which in turn oscillatesor reciprocates its sucker 66 along the path indicated in FIGURE lb. Thetubes 71 are also connected with a rotary valve so that suction is drawnthrough the suckers 66 when taking a sheet from one set of arms 157 andthat suction is maintained until the suckers 66 reach the positiondesignated A in FIG- URE 1b at which time the sheet is taken by gripperspresently to be described whereupon the suction is released and thesuckers 66 return to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 11; toreceive the next sheet. Air jets 88 issuing from an air bar 880 areprovided for urging the lower portions of sheets taken by the suckers 66from the arms 157 downwardly and toward the left as indicated in FIGURE1b to facilitate the subsequent conveying of the sheets hanging by theirupper edges and in generally parallel relationship extendingtransversely of their path of advance beyond the position A.

Mounted in the supporting structure for continuous movement in agenerally clockwise direction are four endless sprocket chains 89carrying grippers as will presently be described. For simplicity one ofthe chains will be described and it will be understood that the otherthree chains are identical and function in similar manner.

Chain 89 meshes with a sprocket 90 on a shaft 91 and with a sprocket 92fixed to a shaft 93 driven as will presently be described. The path ofthe chain is controlled by guides 94 and 95 shown in FIGURE 1b. Thechain is shown to enlarged scale in FIGURES 3-6. Links of the chainspaced apart at equal intervals carry brackets 96 which project at rightangles to the length of the chain, downwardly along the lower reach ofthe chain and upwardly along the upper reach of the chain. The lowerreach is the active reach and the upper reach is the return reach.Pivoted to each bracket 96 is a gripper assembly designated as a wholeby 96a. Each gripper assembly 96a comprises a gripper element 97 havinga gripper 98, an arm 99 opposed to the gripper 98 and an arm 100carrying a roller 101 and a cooperating element 102 having a gripper pad103 and an arm 104 carrying a roller 105. A compression coil spring 106is disposed between each arm 99 and the corresponding gripper pad 103normally pressing the gripper pad 103 against the gripper 98 to closethe gripper.

Thus it will be seen that each gripper assembly 96a is pivoted to turnabout an axis 107 on bracket 96. The elements 97 and 102 of each gripperassembly 96a are normally maintained by the spring 106 in therelationship shown in FIGURE 3, i.e., with the gripper closed.

The parts of each gripper assembly 96a are weighted so that when thegripper assembly is free from external control it assumes by gravity theposition shown at B and at C in FIGURE 1a. In other words, regardless ofwhether a gripper assembly is moving from right to left viewing FIGURE1a along the lower reach of the chain or from left to right along theupper reach of the chain it is oriented as shown at B and C, i.e., withthe gripper 98 and pad 103 extending straight downwardly so that a sheetgripped by the gripper will be suspended from its upper edge and willhang straight downwardly with the body of the sheet coplanar with thegripper upper edge.

Cam means are provided for controlling the grippers through the rollers101 and 105. As a gripper assembly moving toward the right viewingFIGURE lb along the upper reach of the chain approaches the right handend thereof its roller 105 enters a cam groove 108 in a guide 108a. Thecam groove 108 communicates directly with a cam groove 120a in a cam120. The cam groove 120a extends around the axis of the shaft 93,terminating at D (FIGURE lb). Each cam 120 is carried by a support 62.The purpose of the cam grooves 108 and 120a is to control theorientation of the gripper assemblies. The gripper element 98 and thegripper pad 103 of each gripper assembly are maintained in contact witheach other by the spring 106 so the gripper assembly as a whole is freeto turn about the axis 107. As above explained each gripper assembly isweighted so that when not influenced by any cam or cam groove it assumesthe orientation shown at B and C in FIGURE 1a. The cam grooves 108 and120a maintain each gripper assembly in generally the same orientation asthe gripper assembly moves around the axis of the shaft 93 althoughcausing the gripper assembly to tilt slightly to be in position toreceive sheets presented thereto by the reciprocating suckers 66. Aseach gripper assembly approaches the position for receiving a sheet fromthe suckers 66 it is opened by the roller 101 riding up on a cam 109(FIGURE 1b). The gripper assembly remains open while the forward edge ofthe sheet to be taken is presented between the gripper 98 and thegripper pad 103 thereof whereupon the roller 101 rides down the lefthand end of the cam 109 viewing FIGURE 1b closing the gripper on theleading edge of the sheet. At the same time suction to the suckers 66 iscut off so that the leading edge of the sheet is transferred from thesuckers 66 to the gripper assembly.

At about the same time a the gripper assembly grips the leading edge ofthe sheet and takes it from the suckers 66 the roller 105 passes out ofthe cam groove 120a at D (FIGURE 1b) so that thereafter the gripperassembly is free to assume its normal orientation caused by itsweighting, i.e., the orientation shown at B and C in FIG- URE 1a. Thisis important because the sheets are being conveyed by the grippershanging from their upper edges and to avoid creases in the sheets thebodies of the sheets should be coplanar with the gripper upper edgesthereof. This condition is accomplished as shown in FIG- URE lb. The airblasts 88 assist in moving each sheet into generally vertical position.Thus the sheets are successively transferred by the reciprocatingsuckers 66 from the transfer elements 61 to the gripper assemblies 96aand during such transfer the gripped edge of each sheet and the portionof the body of the sheets adjacent the gripped edge are maintainedsubstantially coplanar, avoiding creasing of the sheet.

The grippers carry the sheets hanging from their upper edges and inparallel relationship through a chamber 110 in which they are treated.If the particular ink being used has not been completely set prior toentry of the sheets into the chamber 110 the treatment may includecompletion of setting of the ink. Also if the sheets have not beensufiiciently humidified prior to entry into the chamber 110 they may behumidified in that chamber. Alternatively, if it should happen that thesheets have been too greatly humidified by the moistened chill rollsthey can be dehumidified in the chamber 110. In any event the sheetsmove through the chamber 110 in parallel spaced apart relationship asshown in FIGURE 1b, eachsheet hanging from its upper edge and with thegripped upper edges of the sheets coplanar with the bodies of thesheets. The speed of advance of the sheets through the chamber 110 isrelatively slow as compared with the speed of advance of the sheets whenthey are moving edgewise one after the other prior to being taken by thegripper assemblies 96a. This speed control of the sheets is one of thefeatures of our process. Each sheet moves first at relatively high speedwhen the sheets are following each other edgewise and the speed isslowed when the sheets hang in relatively close parallel relationshipwhile passing through the chamber 110. This is all accomplished from asingle drive and each sheet passes smoothly from one portion of theapparatus to the next.

It is desired to pile the treated sheets. This is done upon a pilesupport 111 (FIGURE 1a). In order to pile the sheets each sheet has tobe reoriented from vertical to horizontal position. As each sheetapproaches thepile the body of the sheet below the gripped upper edgethereof engages a series of rollers 112 shown in FIGURE 1a mounted in abracket 113 carried by the supporting structure. Engagement of the bodyof the sheet with a series of rollers causes the sheet to changeorientation from vertical to an orientation approaching horizontal asillustrated in FIGURE 1a. At the same time as the body of a sheet isbeing thus reoriented its upper edge is-being consonantly reoriented bychange of the angularity of the gripper assemblies carrying the sheet.Such change of angularity of the gripper assemblies is caused by ridingof the rollers 101 of the gripper assemblies up an inclined cam 114until they reach a level portion 115. The rollers 101 continue to ridealong the level portion 115 which maintains the gripper assemblies inthe orientation shown at E in FIGURE In. With the gripper assemblies insuch orientation the sheets are carried along over the rollers 1-12 to aposition overlying the pile support 111 each sheet with its grippedleading edge maintained substantially coplanar with the portion of thebody of the sheet adjacent the gripped leading edge.

As a sheet reaches a position overlying the pile support 111 the roller105 of the gripper assembly carrying the sheet enters a horizontal camgroove 116 whose purpose is to maintain the gripper assembly in fixedorientation. With the roller 105 in the horizontal cam groove 116 theroller 101 rides down a cam 117 as shown in FIGURE 1a opening thegripper assembly and releasing the sheet to fall upon the pile of sheetson the pile support 111. After the sheet has been released the roller101 rides oil of the cam 117 and the roller 105 passes out of the camgroove 116 and the gripper assembly without any sheet assumes its normalposition as above described and as shown at B and C in FIGURE la. Itmaintains that position until the roller 105 enters the cam groove 108on the succeeding cycle.

The delivery may be conventional and provided with usual means shown inFIGURE 1a for progressively lowering the pile support as sheets areadded to the pile. Also conventional joggers may be employed as known tothose skilled in the art. Since the delivery per se may be conventionalit need not be here described.

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the drive for the apparatus. A gear 118 drivenfrom the press drive rotates with the cylinder 6. For example, therotary speed of the gear 118 may be 108 r.p.m. For gear 118 meshes witha gear 119 of equal diameter which rotates the delivery reel 13a. Alsorotating with the delivery reel 13a are sprockets 13. Rotating with thechill roll 8 is a gear 121 of the same diameter as the gears 118 and119. Rotating with the gear 121 are sprockets 10 of the same effectivediameter as the sprockets 13. Each sprocket 13 and the correspondingsprocket 10 have a sprocket chain 11 meshing therewith.

The chill roll 22 has a gear 124 rotating therewith and the chill roll23 has a gear 125 rotating therewith. The gears 124 and 125 are in meshwith each other and the gear 124 is in mesh with the gear 121. The gears1-24 and 125 are of the same diameter as the gears 118, 119 and 121.

A gear 126 fixed to the shaft 60 and having the same eflec-tive diameteras the transfer elements 61 meshes with the gear 125. Also fixed to theshaft 60 is a sprocket 127. A sprocket 128 is fixed to the shaft 93. Asprocket chain 129 meshes with the sprockets 127 and 128, the diametersof the gear 126 and the sprockets 127 and 128 being such that the shaft93 rotates at 25.7 r.p.m. Fixed to the shaft 93 are sprockets 92 andfixed to the shaft 91 are sprockets 90.0f the same effective diameter asthe sprockets 92. Each corresponding pair of sprockets 92 and 90 has asprocket chain 89 meshing therewith.

The sheet advancing mechanism in the form shown is such that when thesheets are advancing edgewise one after another they advance at arelatively high speed whereas when they are passing through the chamber110 hanging by their upper edges in parallel relationship they advanceat a relatively low speed.

Thus we provide for rapid and effective setting of the ink and controlof the humidity of the sheets. Our apparatus is entirely automatic andthe speed of the sheets is automatically controlled to slow them as theypass from the portion of the apparatus in which they are moving edgewiseone after another to the portion of the apparatus in which they arehanging by their upper edges in parallel spaced apart relationship.

Features of the method herein disclosed are claimed in our copendingapplication Ser. No. 494,183, filed of even date herewith.

While we have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling sheets comprising first means for initiallyadvancing the sheets by moving them edgewise one after another, thefirst means including rotatable means with first sucker means forcarrying the sheets in an arcuate path, second means for subsequentlyadvancing the sheets by moving them in a second path in which the sheetsare disposed in spaced apart generally face to face relationship, thesecond means including gripper means movable only in the second path,and substantially linearly reciprocable transfer means including secondsucker means transferring the sheets from said arcuate path to thegripper means.

2. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 1 in which saidfirst means comprises a rotatably mounted transfer element havingdiametrically opposed arm members, said first sucker means positionedadjacent the end portion of said respective arm members, said firstsucker means arranged to engage the leading edge of said sheets andadvance said sheets in edgewise relation.

3. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 1 in which saidfirst means includes arcuate guide means for guiding the sheetstransferred thereon in edgewise relation.

4. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 3 in which saidarcuate guide means includes roller members for guiding the trailingedge of the sheets transferred in edgewise relation.

5. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 1 which includesroll means positioned adjacent to said first means, said first suckermeans on said first means operable to engage the leading edge of thesheets from said roll means.

6. Apparatus for handling sheets comprising a first rotatably mountedtransfer member having diametrically opposed arm members extendingradially therefrom, said arm members having first sucker meanspositioned on their radial end portions, a second reciprocably mountedtransfer member positioned adjacent to said first transfer member andhaving second sucker means, and said first and second sucker meansoperable to sequentially engage and transfer sheets in edgewise relationone after the other.

7. Apparatus for handling sheets comprising a first transfer memberhaving a rotatably mounted shaft member, diametrically opposed armmembers secured to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said arm membershaving sucker means on their radial end portions, said sucker meansoperable to advance sheets in edgewise relation one to the other bymoving the sheets in an arcuate path, and a second transfer memberhaving lever means to move other sucker means reciprocally in asubstantially linear path for engaging the sheets and transferring thesheets from said first transfer member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,783,575 12/1930 MasDonald271-79 2,355,697 8/1944 Bellache 27179 3,191,928 6/1965 Neiden 27179 XM. HENSON WOOD JR., Primary Examiner. R. A. SCHACHER, AssistantExaminer.

